Adaptive cruise control system and vehicle comprising an adaptive cruise control system

Abstract

A vehicle and an adaptive cruise control system, ACC, is provided. The ACC system includes a control unit configured to control a steering angle of said vehicle in relation to detected road lanes and/or road markings. The ACC system further includes a steering wheel arranged to allow the provision of manual steering input to the steering system of the vehicle and a steering angle sensor. The steering system is configured to identify a steering wheel jerk, performed as a clockwise- and counter-clockwise actuation of the steering wheel within a predetermined time range and to steer the host vehicle from a first, current, road lane to a second road lane based on the identified jerk as indicated by the steering angle sensor.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An adaptive cruise control system for controlling at least one of speed or steering angle of a vehicle in relation to moving or stationary objects by accelerating, retarding or steering the vehicle, said system comprising:
 a vehicle throttle controller, 
 a vehicle braking system controller, 
 a steering system, 
 at least one object detection sensor arranged to detect moving or stationary objects and road lanes and/or road markings in a surroundings of said vehicle, and 
 a control unit configured to control a steering angle of said vehicle in relation to detected road lanes and/or road markings by controlling the steering system, 
 wherein said adaptive cruise control system further comprises: 
 a steering wheel arranged to allow the provision of manual steering input to the steering system of the vehicle, and 
 a steering angle sensor, wherein the steering system is configured to identify a steering wheel jerk, performed as a clockwise and counter-clockwise actuation of the steering wheel within a predetermined time range, by comparing data from the steering angle sensor with at least one predetermined threshold and to steer the host vehicle from a first, current, road lane to a second road lane based on the identified jerk as indicated by the steering angle sensor. 
 
     
     
       2. The adaptive cruise control system according to  claim 1 , wherein a duration of the predetermined time range is less than 2 seconds. 
     
     
       3. The adaptive cruise control system according to  claim 1 , wherein a duration of the predetermined time range is less than 1 second. 
     
     
       4. The adaptive cruise control system according to  claim 1 , wherein a first predetermined threshold is identifiable by a first clockwise or counter-clockwise steering angle of at least (α) degrees, (α) being at least 1 degree. 
     
     
       5. The adaptive cruise control system according to  claim 4 , wherein a second predetermined threshold is identifiable by a second steering angle of at least (β) degrees, (β) being at least 1 degree, the direction of the second steering angle being opposite the first steering angle. 
     
     
       6. The adaptive cruise control system according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first or second predetermined threshold is represented by a change in steering angle of at least 10 degrees/second. 
     
     
       7. The adaptive cruise control system according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first or second predetermined threshold is represented by a rate of change in steering angle of at least 50 degrees/s 2 . 
     
     
       8. The adaptive cruise control system according  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display arrangement arranged to display a representation of road lanes or road markings in front of the host vehicle, and 
 an input arrangement enabling by selective input thereto, selection of a displayed representation of road lanes or road markings to be steered into. 
 
     
     
       9. The adaptive cruise control system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 turn signal indicators, wherein initiation of a lane change is confirmed via activation of a turn signal indicator. 
 
     
     
       10. The adaptive cruise control system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a steering wheel vibration arrangement for vibrating the steering wheel, wherein initiation of a lane change is confirmed through activating the steering wheel vibration arrangement to provide haptic confirmation. 
 
     
     
       11. A vehicle comprising an adaptive cruise control system according to  claim 1 .